News + Features

Police Warn: Serial Cat Killer On The Loose

246 cats and small animals found mutilated and killed

By Catalina Barrios

Pet owners in England are concerned and on high alert after hundreds of cats and small animals, including foxes and rabbits, have been found decapitated in London and surrounded areas. “Keep your cats, dogs and other animals in at night”, is the notice given by British Police after an increase of cat mutilations and murders since 2015.

The killer has yet to be caught nor is it known whether this is the work of one sole individual or that of a gang. In 2015 there were 4 animals killed but that number rose in 2016 which saw an increase of over 100% in pet killings, raising the total by years end to 114 dead. In 2017, a total of 246 animals had been mutilated and killed. The unknown killer has been given a number of names in the media, including the ‘Croydon Cat Killer,’ ‘Croydon Cat Ripper,’ ‘M25 Animal Killer’ and the ‘UK Cat Killer.’

Police are on the hunt for this serial pet killer who uses raw meat to lure the cats into his trap, he then decapitates them and removes their tails with what police suspect might be an object akin to sharp knife. If time permits, this psychopath then proceeds to remove the cats’ organs.

Many of these murders have occurred in suburban areas that pose a problem for police due to the large number of alleyways that give easy access into people’s gardens.

Amber Lewis and her son Liam, with a picture of victim, Leo the cat

British Metropolitan Police, Detective Sergeant, Andy Collin oversees ‘Operation Takahe’ whose mission it is to find the animal killer. “We know that there is a link between serial killers [of humans] and cases of violence against animals. The assumption is that this killer gets some form of satisfaction [by killing cats]”, said Collin.

Tony Jenkins, co-founder of SNARL (South Northwood Animal Rescue and Liberty), a British animal charity, has confirmed that an increasing number of mutilated felines are appearing near schools, parks and sometimes even beneath the windows of their owners.

SNARL’S map shows how the serial cat killer has escalated since 2015.

Police report that although there haven’t been any arrests, they have compiled a list of approximately 30 suspects and are narrowing their investigation to focus on three of them. One of the suspected mass feline murderers is a white man in his forties with short brown hair, between 5”8 and 5”11 in height, with possible acne and facial scars. It is believed the serial cat killer hunts at night and both carries a handheld flashlight along with wearing a headgear that is equipped with it a light.

Police are advising pet owners to keep their animals safe by:

Ensuring that homes have a cat door so if the animal is threatened or scared, it has immediate access to the house;

Check on cats periodically while they are outside;

Have the pet micro-chipped so it can be quickly identified if needed;

The team at Get Leashed advises all London residents to use a smart phone enabled, pet GSP tracking system that can be affixed to their cats collars, at all times until this situation is resolved by police.